How to use PayPal

1. Send money to friends and family

PayPal supports transfers to individuals in the U.S. — in many cases, for free. Here’s how:

2. Pay for goods online

To pay for online purchases using PayPal, the company lets you check out by logging in to your account and skip plugging in your financial, billing and shipping information on a retailer’s site. Only PayPal will have your financial info.

Hundreds of thousands of online merchants offer PayPal as a payment option, including eBay, Walmart and Best Buy, and newer players such as Spotify and Uber.

3. Shop now, pay later

PayPal Credit allows qualifying users to shop for an item online and pay for it later or over time with interest (29.24% for new accounts) — acting basically like an online credit card. Avoid interest by paying off the full amount in six months on purchases of $99 or more.

4. Buy items in stores

PayPal’s mobile app lets you pay at participating brick-and-mortar stores by providing you a one-time QR code. You can look for PayPal QR codes at restaurants, stores, farmers’ markets and more.